Locking header for universal serial bus device retention
A device for locking a USB device to a USB header includes a member secured to a USB header and selectively movable between a locked position that blocks outward movement of a spring finger of the USB header and an unlocked position that permits outward movement of the spring finger. The selectively moveable member may include a collar secured around the USB header. In one embodiment, the collar slides in an axial direction relative to the axis of the USB header. In another embodiment, the collar slides in a transverse direction relative to the axis of the USB header. In yet another embodiment, the selectively moveable member is a lever, button or dial coupled to a collar positioned around the USB header. For example, the member may be a lever pivotally coupled to the collar.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for locking a universal serial bus connector.
2. Background of the Related Art
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a serial bus standard to interface devices. USB was designed to allow peripherals to be connected using a single standardized interface socket, to improve plug-and-play capabilities by allowing devices to be connected and disconnected without rebooting the computer. Other convenient features include powering low-consumption devices without the need for an external power supply and allowing some devices to be used without requiring individual device drivers to be installed. USB can connect computer peripherals such as mouse devices, keyboards, PDAs, gamepads and joysticks, scanners, digital cameras and printers. For many of these devices USB has become the standard connection method.
USB connectors are designed so that they cannot be plugged-in upside down, and it is readily apparent when the plug and socket are correctly mated. USB cables and small USB devices are held in place by the gripping force that the header applies to the plug. However, the force needed to make or break a connection is modest, so that connections can be made in awkward circumstances or by those with motor disabilities
A universal serial bus (USB) device has a rectangular connector made with windows on the longer sides that produce a slight frictional feel when mated to a USB header or port. As the USB connector slides into a USB header, small spring fingers on the header are flexed out of the way. When the USB device is fully connected, the spring fingers return to their starting position, but with a portion of the spring fingers extending into the USB device windows. Accordingly, the USB connector is secured under a modest resistance.
However, there are applications in which it may be desirable to avoid unintended disconnection of the USB device connector. For example, it would be desirable for the connectors of USB peripherals, like printers, to be strongly secured against unintended disconnection since they are typically installed for long periods of time. Similarly, it may be desirably for a user to temporarily elect to tightly secure a game controller or joystick to avoid accident disconnection during an active game. Still further, a USB device such as a flash drive may be installed at the factory and should not become disconnected during shipping.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved device for retaining or locking a USB connector to a USB header. It would be desirable if such a locking device was simple in design and operation. It would also be desirable if such a locking device could be implemented on USB headers without any modification to existing USB devices. It would be still further desirable if such a locking device could be installed as an add-on device to existing USB headers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne embodiment of the present invention provides a device for locking a USB device to a USB header. The device comprises a member secured to a USB header and selectively movable between a locked position that blocks outward movement of a spring finger of the USB header and an unlocked position that permits outward movement of the spring finger. Preferably, placing the member in the locked position causes the member to block outward movement of the spring finger directly behind a retention tab of the spring finger. Optionally, the device may include a spring that biases the member into the locked position.
Optionally, the selectively moveable member may include a collar secured around the USB header. In one embodiment, the collar slides in an axial direction relative to the axis of the USB header. In another embodiment, the collar slides in a transverse direction relative to the axis of the USB header. A preferred collar for transverse sliding has an inner surface with a land and a groove facing the spring finger, wherein the collar is slideable between the locked position with the land blocking movement of the spring finger and the unlocked position with the groove allowing movement of the spring finger. In yet another embodiment, the selectively moveable member is a lever, button or dial coupled to a collar positioned around the USB header. For example, the member may be a lever pivotally coupled to the collar.
A further embodiment of the invention provides a lockable USB header comprising a USB header with spring fingers adapted to spring outward as a USB device connector is being inserted or withdrawn and to spring inward into windows formed in the USB device connector when the USB device is fully inserted or fully withdrawn. The lockable US header also includes a member secured to the USB header and selectively movable between a locked position that blocks outward movement of the spring fingers and an unlocked position that permits outward movement of the spring fingers.
The present invention provides various embodiments of a device that selectively blocks the outward flexing of a spring finger of a standard USB header in order to prevent disconnection of a USB device connected thereto. One embodiment of the present invention provides a device for locking a USB device to a USB header. The device comprises a member that is securable or secured to a USB header and selectively movable between a locked position that blocks outward movement of the spring finger of the USB header and an unlocked position that permits outward movement of the spring finger. Preferably, placing the member in the locked position causes the member to block outward movement of the spring finger directly behind a retention tab of the spring finger. It is also preferable that the member be designed to simultaneously block outward movement of a plurality of spring fingers, such as blocking each of the four spring fingers in a standard USB header.
Optionally, the selectively moveable member may include a collar secured around the USB header. In one embodiment, the collar slides in an axial direction relative to the axis of the USB header. Accordingly, the collar may have a generally rectangular profile that slides directly over the generally rectangular outer surface of the USB header. In another embodiment, the collar slides in a transverse direction relative to the axis of the USB header, preferably in a direction generally parallel to the long side of the rectangular USB header having a spring finger. A preferred collar for transverse sliding has an inner surface with a land and a groove facing the side of the USB header having the spring finger. This collar is transversely slideable between the locked position with the land blocking movement of the spring finger and the unlocked position with the groove allowing movement of the spring finger.
In yet another embodiment, the selectively moveable member is a lever, button or dial coupled to a collar secured around the USB header. For example, the member may be a lever pivotally coupled to the collar. Optionally, the lever may be selectively retained in the locked position by receiving the distal end of the lever within a depression in the outer surface of the spring finger. Where the USB header has multiple spring fingers, there may be multiple levers. Multiple levers on the same side of the USB header are preferably coupled for coordinated operation. The levers desirably extend away from the USB header for ease of finger tip access and actuation. A particularly preferred embodiment includes a pair of coupled levers on one side of the USB header for engaging a first pair of spring fingers and overcoming a biasing member to selectively move the collar into engagement with a second pair of spring fingers on the opposing side of the USB header.
Some embodiments of the device of the present invention may utilize springs (other than the spring fingers in the USB header) to bias moveable members toward either the locked position or the unlocked position. It may be desirable in some applications for the spring to bias the device toward a locked position so that the device will lock the USB connection unless a user acts upon the device to release the connection. In other applications it may be desirable for the spring to bias the device toward an unlocked position so that the device does not lock unless the user acts upon the device. Still, it should be recognized that many of the advantages of the present invention may be realized without the use of springs, although the movement of the blocking members between locked and unlocked positions is entirely manual. Depending upon the physical orientation of the members, it may be necessary to use other forces, such as frictional forces, to retain the members in a given position.
In another embodiment, the device may be an add-on device that can be selectively secured adjacent a USB header below a flared end of the USB header. An add-on device allows the features of the invention to be implemented in existing computer systems with USB headers. A first non-limiting example is a collar that may be flexed opened at one end in order to reach around the header, where the collar is adapted so that the opened end can be easily coupled in place. A second non-limiting example is a collar comprising two halves that are easily fastened together, such as with a snap-together connection, around the USB header.
A further embodiment of the invention provides a lockable USB header comprising a USB header with spring fingers adapted to spring outward as a USB device connector is being inserted or withdrawn and to spring inward into windows formed in the USB device connector when the USB device is fully inserted or fully withdrawn. The lockable US header also includes a member secured to the USB header and selectively movable between a locked position that blocks outward movement of the spring fingers and an unlocked position that permits outward movement of the spring fingers. The member may take the form of any of the embodiments described above, or by reference to any of the figures below.
The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” as used in the claims and specification herein, shall be considered as indicating an open group that may include other elements not specified. The terms “a,” “an,” and the singular forms of words shall be taken to include the plural form of the same words, such that the terms mean that one or more of something is provided. The term “one” or “single” may be used to indicate that one and only one of something is intended. Similarly, other specific integer values, such as “two,” may be used when a specific number of things is intended. The terms “preferably,” “preferred,” “prefer,” “optionally,” “may,” and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (not required) feature of the invention.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
Claims
1. A device for locking a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) device to a USB header, comprising:
- a member secured to the USB header and slidable in a direction transverse to an insertion direction of the USB header, between a locked position that blocks outward movement of a spring finger of the USB header and an unlocked position that permits outward movement of the spring finger; and
- a spring integrally formed with and projecting from the member and in engagement with the USB header to bias the member to the locked position.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the locked position causes the member to block outward movement of the spring finger directly behind a retention tab of the spring finger.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the member includes a collar secured around the USB header.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the collar has an inner surface with a land and a groove facing the spring finger, wherein the collar is slideable between the locked position with the land blocking movement of the spring finger and the unlocked position with the groove allowing movement of the spring finger.
5. The device of claim 3, wherein the collar may be opened at one end to be selectively received around the USB header below a flared end of the USB header.
6. A device, comprising:
- a USB header having spring fingers configured to spring outward as a USB device connector is being inserted or withdrawn and to spring inward into windows formed in the USB device connector when the USB device connector is fully inserted or fully withdrawn; and
- a lever pivotally coupled to a collar secured to the USB header, the lever being selectively pivotable between a locked position that engages the spring fingers to block outward movement of the spring fingers and an unlocked position in which the lever is spaced from the spring finger to permit outward movement of the spring fingers.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the collar is secured around the USB header.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 30, 2007
Date of Patent: Dec 16, 2008
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY)
Inventors: Jeremy Scott Bridges (Apex, NC), Norman Bruce Desrosiers (Oxford, NC), Dean Frederick Herring (Youngsville, NC), Paul Andrew Wormsbecher (Apex, NC)
Primary Examiner: Hae Moon Hyeon
Attorney: Cynthia Byrd
Application Number: 11/847,704
International Classification: H01R 13/627 (20060101);